Apparatus for manually operating plates or discs provided with apertures

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for manually operating plates provided with apertures such as telephone dials and the like, comprising two parts, one of which is provided with a handle and the other one being substantially conical, said two parts being interconnected via coupling means such that the conical part is movable relative to the first-mentioned part.

Field of Search ..l79/90 AT; 287/87; 40/334 D United States Patent 11513,692,954 Van Moorsel 1 51 Sept. 19, 1972 [54] APPARATUS FOR MANUALLY[56] References Cited OPERATING PLATES OR DISCS UNITED STATES PATENTSPROVIDED WITH APERTURES 2 247 027 6/1941 K h 179/90 AT u n [721 FransMwrsel, ""versum, 2,528,661 11/1950 Lynn 179/90 AT Netherlands 863,3066/1907 McIntyre ..179/90 AT Assignee: Gozen spierenburg Hilve umNetherlands 1,639,441 8/1927 Spahr ..287/87 Filedl y 27, 1970 PrimaryExaminer- Kathleen l-l. Claffy 21 A L N 010 Assistant ExaminerThomasDAmico 1 pp 0 Attorney-Stevens, Davis, Miller & Mosher [30] ForeignApplication Priority Data [57] ABSTRACT June 1 Germany ..P 19 28 075.2Apparatus for manually operating plates provided with apertures such astelephone dials and the like, com- [52] US. Cl ..l79/90 AT prising twoparts, one of which is provided with a han- [Sl] Int. Cl. ..ll04ni 1/23dle and the other one being substantially conical, said [58] two partsbeing interconnected via coupling means such that the conical pan ismovable relative to the first-mentioned part.

3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures APPARATUS FOR MANUALLY OPERATING PLATES RDISCS PROVIDED WITI-I APERTURES This invention relates to an apparatusfor manually operating plates or discs provided with apertures, inparticular for rotating dials of telephone apparatuses.

A dial of a telephone apparatus is supposed to be moved with a fingerwhich, however, in practice often is not done. For this purpose oneoften uses the end of a ball point pen or of a pencil. This entails thedrawback of damage done the dial and, moreover, oneshand is forced tomake considerable movements.

This is accomplished with the apparatus according to the invention inthat it comprises two parts one of which is provided with a handle or isadapted to be secured to a handle and the other one is substantiallyconical, said two parts being interconnected via a coupling such thatthe conical part is rotatable relative to the first-mentioned part.

A preferred embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention ischaracterized in that the conical part is, moreover, adapted to betilted relative to the part provided with a handle or adapted to besecured to a handle. Consequently the conical part which is destined toengage with the apertures of the plates or discs provided with aperturesis capable of performing movements in every direction.

A simple apparatus which is easily manufactured may be obtained if thecoupling consists of a ball which is fixedly connected to one of the twoparts or is in tegral therewith, said ball being located in acorrespondingly shaped accommodation cavity in the other one of saidtwoparts. If the substantially conical part consists of somewhat elasticmaterial, for example synthetic material, rubber or similar material,the ball may be easily pressed into the cavity provided in this part. Ifthe material of the part comprising the accommodation cavity is lesselastic, it is possible to provide around said accommodation cavity anannular groove in thepart in question.

According to the invention the part coupled with the substantiallyconical part may havea broadened upper surface which serves as anabutment for the tilting movement of the conical part. Said broadenedupper surface is preferably convex.

It is of advantage to have a writing implement, for example a ball pointpen or pencil, serve as ahandle of the apparatus according to theinvention-so that when writing one alwayshas the apparatus at onesdisposal. According to the invention the part adapted to be secured to ahandle may be shaped as a cup for protecting sharp and/orvulnerablepoints.

The invention will be further explained below with reference to thedrawings showing by way of example two embodiments of the apparatusaccording to the invention.

The drawings show in:

FIG. 1 a side view of a conical part of the first embodiment providedwith a ball;

FIG. 2 a side view partially in longitudinal section of the part havingan accommodation cavity for the ball of the conical part according toFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 the assembled apparatus partly in side view and partly inlongitudinalsection;

FIG. 4 a section through a conical part having an accommodation cavity;

' FIG. 5 the part having a ball which is shaped to cooperate with theconical part according to FIG. 4.

The apparatus shown in FIGS. I to 3 comprises two parts, namely asubstantially conical part I having a flattened or rounded top portion 2and a flat base 3 provided with a ball 4, and a part 5 co-operating withsaid part 1. Part5 comprises an accommodation cavity for the ball 4 ofpart 1. Around said ac-commodation cavity 6 there is provided an annulargroove 7. As is apparent from FIG. 2 the upper surface 8 of thebroadened upper portion 9 of part5 is convex.

As is apparent from FIG. 3 both parts I and 5 are coupled with the aidof the ball 4 such that the base surface 3 extends at a small distancefrom the upper surface 8 of the broadened upper portion 9 of part5.Consequently part I is adapted to rotate as well as tilt relative to thepart5. The upper surface 8 thereby serves an an abutment to limit thetilting movement.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 4 and 5 differs from the one according toFIGS. 1 to 3 only by the fact that in part 1' an accommodation cavity 6'and an annular groove 7 are provided, the part 5' being provided with aball 4'.

Parts 1, l and 5, 5' may be manufactured from synthetic materials,rubber or similar material. In this way the apparatus is prevented fromdamaging the disc or plate which is operated while the ball may easilybe inserted into the accommodation cavity so that if the material of oneor both parts is sufficiently elastic, the groove 7 or 7 respectively issuperfluous. If a less elastic material is used the groove 7 or 7'respectively still renders it possible to press the ball 4 or 4'respectively nevertheless into the accommodation-cavity 6 or 6respectively. Part 1 or 1 respectively is embodied such that its basehas a larger diameter than the one of the apertures in the disc or plateto be operated. In this way the upper portion 2 of part 1 does not comeinto contact with parts or surfaces located under the operated disc orplate.

In consequence of the fact that the conical part 1 or 1' respectively isadapted to rotate or tilt the advantage is obtained that when part 1 isinserted into an aperture of a disc or plate, said part remains immobilein said aperture during rotation or movement of the dial or plate thuspreventing damage. Application of the apparatus causes the movements ofthe hand and the arm to be considerable smaller so that fatigue symptomswill be reduced.

It is obvious that the invention is not restricted to the embodimentsdescribed above and shown by way of example in'the drawings, but thatthese may be modified in many ways without departing from the scope ofthe invention. Any suitable coupling may be used as a coupling of thetwo parts. The base of parts 1, or I respectively and the upper surfaceof parts 5 or 5' respectively may be formed in any suitable way. In theembodiment shown part 5 or 5' respectively is given the shape of a pinwhich for example may be inserted into the upper end of a ball pointpen. It is obvious that this part can also be shaped as a cup into whichthe upper end of a ball point pen, pencil or some other writing ordrawing implement can be inserted. Said cup may then also serve toprotect the point of the writing or drawing implement when not in use.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for manually operating plates with apertures such as atelephone dial comprising two parts, the first part being provided witha handle and the second part being substantially conical with a basewhich faces the end of the first part, said two parts beinginterconnected by a ball coupling with the conical part rotatablerelative to the first part and also being tiltable relative to the firstpart with the first part having a broadened upper surface serving as anabutment for the tilting movement.

2. An apparatus for manually operating plates with apertures such as atelephone dial comprising two parts, the first part being provided witha handle and the second part being substantially conical with a basewhich faces the end of the first part, said two parts beinginterconnected by a ball coupling with the conical part rotatablerelative to the first part and also being tiltable relative to the firstpart with an annular groove around the cavity which accomodates theball.

3. Apparatus for manually operating plates provided with apertures suchas dials of telephone apparatuses and the like, said apparatuscomprising two parts one of which being provided with means for fixingit on a handle consisting of a writing implement, the other part beingsubstantially conical, said two parts being interconnected via acoupling consisting of a ball on one of said parts and an accommodationcavity for said ball in the other of said parts, an annular groove beingprovided around said accommodation cavity, the two parts being made insuch a way that the conical part is adapted to be tilted with regard tothe other part.

1. An apparatus for manually operating plates with apertures such as atelephone dial comprising two parts, the first part being provided witha handle and the second part being substantially conical with a basewhich faces the end of the first part, said two parts beinginterconnected by a ball coupling with the conical part rotatablerelative to the first part and also being tiltable relative to the firstpart with the first part having a broadened upper suRface serving as anabutment for the tilting movement.
 2. An apparatus for manuallyoperating plates with apertures such as a telephone dial comprising twoparts, the first part being provided with a handle and the second partbeing substantially conical with a base which faces the end of the firstpart, said two parts being interconnected by a ball coupling with theconical part rotatable relative to the first part and also beingtiltable relative to the first part with an annular groove around thecavity which accomodates the ball.
 3. Apparatus for manually operatingplates provided with apertures such as dials of telephone apparatusesand the like, said apparatus comprising two parts one of which beingprovided with means for fixing it on a handle consisting of a writingimplement, the other part being substantially conical, said two partsbeing interconnected via a coupling consisting of a ball on one of saidparts and an accommodation cavity for said ball in the other of saidparts, an annular groove being provided around said accommodationcavity, the two parts being made in such a way that the conical part isadapted to be tilted with regard to the other part.